Five people have died after a gunman opened fire in the baggage reclaim area of Terminal 2

Santiago reportedly loaded the gun, which he had carried on a flight from Alaska to Florida, via Minneapolis, in the bathroom and came out shooting.

He is not thought to have said anything during the mass shooting.

Santiago is thought to have flown into Fort Lauderdale on a Delta flight from Anchorage, Alaska.

Senator Bill Nelson named Santiago as the suspect on news channel MSNBC and said he was carrying military identification.

A military spokeswoman says the suspect in a deadly shooting at the Fort Lauderdale, Florida, airport received a general discharge from the Alaska Army National Guard last year for unsatisfactory performance.

Lt. Col. Candis Olmstead did not release details about 26-year-old Esteban Santiago's discharge in August 2016. Olmstead said that he joined the Guard in November 2014.

Santiago is from New Jersey, but his most recent address is listed as Naples, Florida.

Victims were pictured being wheeled onto ambulances after the horror shooting spree

Ft Lauderdale airport in Florida evacuated following shooting

His brother said Santiago received psychological treatment in Alaska and had served in the Guard.

Sheriff Scott Israel says Santiago was not harmed and law enforcement did not fire any shots. It is not yet known if the mass shooting was an act of terror.

A witness described the shooter as a slender, gun-wielding man in a blue "Star Wars" t-shirt.

John Schichler told MSNBC the suspect was able to reload his gun at least once during the attack.

The office earlier confirmed five people died, eight were injured and one suspect was in custody following the mass shooting.

Broward County Mayor Barbara Sharief said a lone gunman was responsible for the mass shooting spree.

She added: "We have no evidence at this time that he was acting with anyone else. He is currently in custody and we're investigating."

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Eight people were injured in the shooting, which reportedly broke out in the baggage reclaim area

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The suspect is being quizzed by officers after opening fire in baggage reclaim

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Hundreds of people were left stranded on the tarmac after the airport was evacuated earlier today

Broward County Sheriff's office added: "Confirming multiple people are dead, and a number of people were transported to a hospital from @FLLFlyer (Fort LauderdaleA Airport). Upper level of airport open."

Reports of a second shooting at the airport appear to have been discounted by authorities.

Officers are quizzing the suspect, who was arrested at the scene.

Shooting broke out in the baggage reclaim area of Terminal 2, the airport said

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Flyers were pictured with their hands in the air as they escaped the terminal

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A woman sobs outside the airport with her phone in her hand after shooting broke out at Fort Lauderdale

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Armed police guard terrified passengers as they hide under a flight of stairs outside the airport

Witness Chenet Nerette claimed the gunman appeared to be a white man using a handgun, TMZ reports.

He said the gunman "took a knee right before he opened fire", suggesting he was preparing for the massacre.

Airport officials announced the new on Twitter, saying there was an "ongoing incident" in the baggage claim area of Terminal 2.

Another witness described the airport as "like a war zone" after the horrifying shooting.

Horrifying video footage shows passengers cowering in fear in the aftermath of the massacre.

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Pictures show passengers lying on the ground as police work to control the shooting in Florida

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Other people are seen running away while armed police storm the airport

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Airport officials said on Twitter that there is an "ongoing incident" in the baggage claim area of Terminal 2

Florida police confirm Ft Lauderdale shooter is 'unharmed' in custody

Panicked witnesses crouch near the floor and desperately try to flee the scene after shots ring out.

Terrifying Twitter reports described "everyone running" after shots were fired shortly before 6pm.

Former White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer tweeted: "I'm at the Ft. Lauderdale Airport. Shots have been fired. Everyone is running."